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Forensic experts: Identifying body parts could take weeks By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hezbollah, Israel  The process of identifying the body parts of Israel Defense Forces soldiers returned by Hezbollah on Sunday will take between a few days and months, depending on the state of the tissue and the availability of DNA samples from family members, medical sources at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine said Sunday. Each body part will be examined to determine its genetic makeup and compared to DNA from family members of deceased soldiers. The closer the blood relation, the easier it will be to identify the remains. Results of such tests are usually obtained within two days. If the remains have already decomposed and no tissue is left then the process of identifying the remains from bone tissue becomes more complicated and may take a few months. Advertisement "It is possible to extract DNA from bones and it has been done many times in the past, but the process is both lengthy and costly," a source at Abu Kabir told Haaretz on Sunday. After identifying the remains, the authorities will inform the bereaved families and arrange the burial. In the past, IDF officials have buried such remains in a military cemetery, in a small box placed on top of the coffin where the remainder of the body parts has already been laid to rest. They have refrained from opening the coffins. "This is a process called depositing, not interring," Rabbi Yaakov Roza, a rabbi working for the Hevra Kadisha burial society, said. "No ceremony is held in such an instance and no mourning customs are observed." Over the past few years Israeli medical authorities have amassed a lot of experience identifying body remains in the wake of the series of suicide bombings carried out during the Al-Aqsa Intifada and the identification of Israelis killed by the tsunami in South East Asia. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Slamming Obama McCain uses speech to AIPAC to criticize Obama for willingness to meet U.S. foes. Soldier kidnapping Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier.

Read & React Who didn't attend New York's pro-Israel march? Israelis Responses: 154 Doctors identify three IDF soldiers among remains handed over by Hezbollah Responses: 114 John McCain: U.S. is committed to preventing a second Holocaust Responses: 129 Barak: Hamas is exhibiting signs of distress Responses: 80 More Headlines 23:33 U.S., UN express concern over Israel's plan for 800 new E. Jerusalem homes 01:05 Olmert begins U.S. visit; set to meet with AIPAC, Bush 22:42 Doctors identify three IDF soldiers among remains handed over by Hezbollah 01:37 Natalie Portman to pitch Jewish-funded youth village in Rwanda 18:35 Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier 23:56 Senior IDF officer loses 'top secret' security documents 21:56 Israel lets Israeli Arabs into Jenin for first time since 2000 01:57 With primary in sight, Kadima chiefs scurry to drum up support 23:38 Despite Shas threats, Bar On says won't increase child welfare payments 20:25 Barak says general elections this year are 'entirely possible' 23:49 Court slams gov't for preventing Gazan students from studying abroad 20:19 U.S. imam fighting deportation talks of torture in Israeli detention Previous Editions Select Day 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may

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